Adriaan Maester

“… My father was a cranky sort, which is a commonly known fact. He never really had any enemies, he did not believe in any such thing. In business there are no friends or enemies, only competitors and profiteers. That was his credo, as it were. Nevertheless, few people could appreciate him. During his final days, he was quite angry. I do not have the complete picture, but he was feuding with my little sister Elisabeth, that untameable shrew. They had a row about something or other and he locked her in her wagon. Last week on Sunday, I think. Nicolaas was also quarrelling with Julius Bilt, I believe. He was the stable-boy, who was discharged during the address of yesterday. By the way, I would not at all be surprised if you managed to find any incriminating evidence against him. His kind is never to be trusted. And Giuseppe, have you gotten around to him yet? That Italian cur had his issues with Nicolaas as well, fancying himself a king with his big cats. What’s more, I saw a man with a big moustache shuffling across the circus grounds on the night before the murder. Regarding these so-called tensions between me and Nicolaas: hardly noteworthy. I owed him some money. Simply a minor quibble between a father and a son. And it goes without saying that I was already in the process of repaying him. Why, I was spreading pamphlets in Dalfsen to promote our circus only yestermorn, at eight o’clock. We were not enemies. He did not believe in any such thing. And I would be a preposterous lunatic had I ended my father’s life over such a trivial matter.”

Elisabeth Maester

“… it is ever so dreadful. Nicolaas was unbearably strict, but he was my father. He took it upon himself to raise us after our mother’s passing. He wanted to protect us at all costs, to keep us close to him. He had a habit of overdoing it sometimes, but such was his love. Nicolaas loved us. Nay, I would never be able to do him harm. Most of our performers were loyal to him as well, and would gladly have gone through fire and water for him, with nary a second thought. The tensions between me and my father had been mounting for some time. I could not stand his lust for control. During our last argument, on Sunday last week, he decided to lock me inside of my wagon until I would ‘learn some manners’. I was there until Giuseppe Cagliari released me yesterday, after the incident. I do not know how long I would have remained imprisoned, had he not been there. He was a strict man, as I’ve said. But he was my father. The tragedy that befell him… I simply cannot fathom it.”

Julius Bilt

“… I have never viewed Nicolaas Meester as an enemy. He was the one who hired me to work at this circus. Why would I wish him dead? Do not look at me, for God’s sake. I was stable-boy to Giuseppe, that beloved lion tamer. I have no knowledge of what occupied Nicolaas during his final days. He argued much with Arie, his son. On Monday morning, I could vaguely see a figure stumbling past the wagons, a person of small stature. I could not see very well of course, but you know to whom I refer. Suspicious, if you ask me. Some shady dealings were going on by the hollow tree trunk. I do not know who was running them, I only know that one could get anything they wanted there, as long as one was patient enough. The past few days I did not see Elisabeth, that is Nicolaas’ daughter, on the field very much. He was quarrelling with her also. Makes one wonder about the effects of that calming tea he had every morning. My being discharged has nothing to do with his death. His reasons for dismissing me are irrelevant. This I swear to you. He was angry with me, with almost everyone, but I not with him. There were no other issues to speak of. Yesterday morning? I was at the pond, between seven thirty and eight thirty, washing Cagliari’s boots and clothing before the show. I rushed to that morning’s address, only to hear how I would be discharged.”

Maria Otter

“I pray you, do not be mistaken as to my profession. I do not possess the supernatural ability to assist you in unravelling this case. It is merely in my best interests to uphold the reputation I have with my clients. I advise the performers and visitors, and offer them insight into themselves. But allow me to acquaint you with the facts that are presently available to all involved. The morning of yesterday, all performers were gathered at the heart of our circus attending the address by our Director. Every day the grounds are opened, Nicolaas gives us his speech at eight thirty sharp. And all the performers answered his call early that day, gathering round the main tent around eight. That is, all except for five persons: the five individuals who all have their wagon on their own separate field. I refer to the late Nicolaas, Meester’s offspring, the famed lion trainer, and the latter’s servant. In the time leading up to the address, I exchanged words with our Director about the tea I had provided him with. Tea which at that moment was still steeping and he had yet to consume. It must have been this window during which one of the four suspects took the opportunity to put something in the tea. But who? Daughter, son, trainer, servant? I wish you the best of luck, mister Donker.”

Verified with other performers
She speaks the truth
– Koen Donker

Giuseppe Cagliari

”Niccolò was my boss and my role model. I wish to become like he; forte. A man with power. I always was looking up to him whenever he announced me. He met a tragic fate. What will now become of Circus Meester? This Circus is full of banditi. Consider Arie, son of the boss; he will now be the new director after his father. Always had shifty eyes, that one. And they were arguing, always arguing. Arie stole from his papà, that was what the arguing was all about. Think, agente. And listen to me. The night before the murder, I see a dark man with frizzy hair skulking about. Consider Julius, the servant who was cleaning the cages. And he was discharged yesterday morning by Niccolò. Now I must find another to clean the cages. He could have killed him, the uncouth man. The only person I trust above all else is Elisabetha. She was trapped, and had been all week, but I released her after the death of the direttore. Yesterday morning? I was with the leone very early, they must be calm before the show. I was there early, just before otto.”

Simon Broger

“…the final time I saw Nicolaas Meester was during the twilight hours of Wednesday, the 8th of August. The medicine was safely handed to him. However, considering the end result, I suppose ‘safely’ might not be the right word. I do not feel guilty. I distributed a medicinal liquid to a competent person of status, and only to him, so that he could utilise it as he intended. I would never have displayed the same amount of trust to any of his subordinates. Nevertheless, to my regret I must admit to have erred. I had written down for Nicolaas certain comments regarding the Angelmaker and the instructions for its use, which I neglected to deliver to him. The note spent a whole day lying on my desk, from which it was lifted on August 9th. As fate would have it, on that day all the performers of the circus came round for a physical examination. All of the circus’ colourful characters visited my practice that day, from the colossal strongman to Nicolaas’ wee son. The latter is the swindler who reeks so pungently of spirits that even this pamphlet, which I acquired yesterday, could be used to subdue a cow. Each of those performers had an equal chance to see the recipe and draw from it certain mean-spirited conclusions, even to concoct heinous plans. However, I cannot think of any reason why anyone in their merry band would bear ill will against the circus director. Nevertheless, there is a slave amongst them. Bought and freed, or so they say. Certainly, someone like that is bound to harbour an eternal hatred against authority. It would not at all surprise me if the slave took his revenge upon Meester. What the late circus director had planned for the Angelmaker, I would rather not disclose. Suffice it to say that taking himself was not exactly his plan. And of course, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to sir Meester’s next of kin.”